35
Firian
Without his killing ability, Firian and Belik were evenly matched. Firian’s heart charged in his chest as he met Belik’s level gaze.
He drew himself up like a diver about to plunge off a cliff, sucking in breaths to fill himself with strength. His hands were fists, his muscles taut.
But the space in front of him was blank. Belik had vanished.
“Belik!” he roared. How could he abandon this fight? Belik was the worst kind of gory criminal, but he was no coward. “Belik!”
Firian ascended to the First Level again. Nothing. His arms shook. All of his allies had disappeared when he told them to, though a few ghostly bodies lay slumped in the palace hallway, slowly fading from view. He felt like he was choking. “Belik!” he tried, but he knew the Master was gone. Even his ears felt h
